Leap of Faith: the crown of a good name

Widely lauded as football’s greatest hero, Pele’s death from colon cancer at the age of 82 led to three days of national mourning in his home country of Brazil. I am not really a follower of football, but it is undoubtedly true that Pele’s sporting achievements are unrivalled, including sharing in three World Cup victories.

It is hardly surprising, therefore, that he inspired many young footballers – with others admiring of his appointment as Brazil’s first black minister (of sport), rising from a secure, religious but poor home.

As I contemplated the life of Pele, my thoughts turned to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, the mid second century CE pupil of Rabbi Akiva.

Akiva was imprisoned for teaching Torah but Shimon continued to learn with him and was one of five of Akiva’s pupils who survived the failed Bar Kochba revolt and was credited with the ‘revival of the Torah at that time’ (Babylonian Talmud: Yevamot 62b).

After the defeat of the Jewish rebellion, the Roman regime, particularly under the emperor Hadrian, continued to persecute the Jews and Shimon was sentenced to death (Babylonian Talmud: Shabbat 33a). He and his son were forced to flee and to hide in a cave for 12 years.

In Mishnah Pirke Avot 4:13 we read: “Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai used to say: ‘There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood and the crown of royalty, but the crown of a good name exceeds them all.’”

How might these crowns be understood in a modern sense? The crown of Torah is symbolic of what one is taught and one learns; the crown of priesthood recalls the detailed duties of work which the Levi’im undertook in the Temple; the crown of (hereditary) royalty reminds us of the station and place of our birth; and the crown of a good name represents the values by which we live and which we seek to inculcate by example in those who come after us.

Pele was born into relative poverty and learnt his craft playing barefoot. He hoped to be remembered for the values that underpinned his sport. He believed that football was an art, an opportunity to foster unity and a chance to create joy.

Unfortunately, we know virtually nothing about the background of Shimon Bar Yochai but we do know that he never stopped resisting religious (Roman) persecution. He even once apparently served as an emissary of the Sanhedrin to Rome to plead for the abolition of decrees against the observance of the commandments.

For very different reasons, both Shimon Bar Yochai and Pele wear the crown of a good name. And while Pele may well be a hero to millions, for many Jews, including this author, Shimon Bar Yochai is an exemplar of a dedicated teacher of Torah who refused to bow to intimidation.